Police Beat

Fire escape bandit ransacks KB pad

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Fire escapes can save lives, but they also can be a convenient point-of-entry for thieves. 

And it’s not the first time it happened recently in this part of the Bronx.

A 42-year-old told cops he left his Kingsbridge Heights apartment on the 150 block of West 197th Street around 6:30 p.m., on May 16, returning the following afternoon to find his pad trashed and plundered.

A mystery perp slipped in through a rear fire escape window, police said, taking an Apple iPad, 10 assorted watches, three pairs of Nike sneakers, a pair of Pandora bracelets, and $6,000 cash. 

Police valued the non-cash bounty at around $4,350.

The building is equipped with security cameras, police said, which could offer a clue in tracking the stealthy suspect as they investigate the burglary.

 

Brown bag robber sticks up Kidville

Robbery is not usually on the agenda at the Kidville after-school program in Riverdale, which offers kids up to 6 years old gym, music, art and dance classes among other activities.

But it was definitely on the docket last Sunday when police responded to a reported robbery at its West 235th Street location.

The man walked into Kidville around 1 p.m., toting a brown bag and claiming he had a gun, according to franchise owner Adi Rosenfeld. He demanded cash from the register, telling a front desk employee, “I don’t want any trouble. If you don’t give me the money, I have a gun. I will shoot everybody here.”

She quickly forked over $115 and the guy left, Rosenfeld said, adding their security cameras recorded the entire heist.

Police from the 50th Precinct suspect the perp — described as about 5-foot-11, 220 pounds and in his 50s — may have been targeting other Riverdale establishments that same morning, including the nearby Burger King on Broadway, which had reportedly been robbed hours earlier.

Fortunately, no one was injured, Kidville was open for business as usual the next day, and police are investigating the robbery.

No one, as of yet, has been arrested, however.

Speaking of the Burger King robbery, the 6007 Broadway restaurant on the edge of Van Cortlandt Park was hit by a man who walked in at 9 Sunday morning with a hand concealed in his jacket pocket, stating, “I got a gun. Open the register and give me everything,” according to police.

Not taking any chances, the employee quickly handed over $125.

The perp — whom police described as a solid 5-foot-10 and 250 pounds — snatched the cash and fled to parts unknown.

Police are investigating the robbery.

 

Bedroom burglar nabs big bucks

At least one Kingsbridge resident probably is considering investing in better locks to safeguard her apartment.

A 46-year-old told police she left home around lunchtime last Thursday, May 17, returning a little after 5 to find someone had slipped past the front door of her apartment on the 3000 block of Kingsbridge Avenue.

Once inside, police said, the intruder damaged the woman’s bedroom door and snatched $10,000 cash.

Police are investigating the burglary.

Police Beat, Zak Kostro